In the forest, while searching for Sita, Rama and Lakshmana met the demon Kabandh . His arms were each one yojana (1 Yojana =8-10 miles) long and his head was thrust into his torso. His feet were also pushed inside his body which was just a huge torso with a face in it. He used to capture the jungle animals with his long arms and eat them up. He now caught hold of Rama and Lakshmana and was about to devour the duo. But they were quick and alert and cut off his long arms thus killing him. According to his request, Rama and Lakshmana dug a huge hole and buried him in it. When they performed his final rites, he appeared as a gandharva (celestial being) and disappeared in the sky. But before doing so, he told Rama and Lakshmana to meet Shabari at the ashram of Rishi Matanga on Rishyamukh Mountain.

So Rama and Lakshmana proceeded there. Before quitting his earthly form, Sage Matanga had told Shabari that you will behold Rama at this very ashram. Her faith in the promise of Sage Matanga made Shabari wait for ages for the arrival of Shri Rama. Every day, she would gather fruits and berries from the forest, taste them to check if they were sweet and then save the sweet delicious ones for Rama. She did not even realize that by biting the fruits, she was making them impure and unfit for anyone else. When Rama arrived at the ashram, she was overwhelmed. She welcomed him and offered him the fruits she had gathered, tasted and saved for him that day. Shri Rama ate the fruits with a smile, realizing that it was her devotion that made her taste them.

Shabari told Rama and Lakshmana about Sugreeva, the monkey king who lived on Rishyamukh hill. She said she was sure he would be able to help them in their search for Sita. Rama and Lakshmana then set out for the Rishyamukh hill.

When Sugreeva saw the two valiant men with their bows and arrows approaching, he was filled with apprehension. He thought they may be sent by his arch enemy and brother Bali to find him out. So he sent his brave minister Hanuman to find out the reason why the two young warriors were roaming in the forest. Hanuman took the guise of a Brahmin and asked the two for theirintroduction and their purpose of coming there. Rama told him about his fourteen years exile in the forest and the kidnapping of Sita. Hanuman realized that this was his favorite Ishtdeva Rama, and bowed down to touch his feet in veneration. He took his original vanara (monkey) form and introduced himself. Then he placed the two princes on his shoulders and with a leap reached on topof the Rishyamukh hill where Sugreeva stayed.